Phil Collins Calls Trump ‘Nasty,’ Teases Song About America

Phil Collins criticized President Donald Trump during a Friday appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, offering a blunt assessment of the president’s style and revealing that he has an unwritten song concept about America called “Fat People with Guns.” The comments came just weeks before Collins is set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist, putting fresh attention on the veteran British musician’s views on politics, public figures and the United States.

Asked directly by Morgan what he thought of Trump, Collins replied, “not a lot” before expanding on why he finds the president difficult to respect. He said Trump’s “whole manner is unattractive” and contrasted him with earlier presidents, whom he described as more eloquent and elegant. Collins said that in the past, even when people disagreed with a president, they could still respect the officeholder, but that Trump’s demeanor instead produces dislike.

Collins said, “When someone like Trump is as nasty as he is, you end up feeling dislike for him.” He also suggested that Trump might try to challenge the traditional two-term limit for U.S. presidents, while acknowledging that he does not consider himself especially political. Collins said it would not surprise him if Trump attempted to overrule the “two-term deal,” referring to the constitutional rule that limits presidents to two elected terms.

Trump appeared to reject that idea in August, telling reporters that another run was not an option because the law is clear. “I’d love to run, but the law is very strong,” Trump said. The restriction is set out in the 22nd Amendment, which states that no person can be elected president more than twice.

During the same interview, Collins also discussed his songwriting process and mentioned a phrase he has saved for possible future use. He said he has “a song that’s waiting to be written” called “Fat People with Guns,” adding that it is about America and that he wrote the phrase down so he would not forget it. The remark is likely to draw attention because it moves beyond criticism of a single political figure and touches on broader perceptions of the country.

Broader debate over artists and political backlash

Collins’ remarks land in the middle of a wider debate about how far musicians can go when speaking about politics and national identity. In comments to Fox News Digital in June, Achilles PR founder Doug Eldridge said political criticism is often received differently when artists shift from targeting a politician to criticizing America more broadly. He argued that many Americans are less focused on politics outside election years, but react more strongly when they feel the country itself is being disparaged.

Eldridge said artists who care about commercial appeal should be cautious when criticizing “American culture, character, and capability,” warning that while making such statements is free, the public response can be costly. Sarah Schmidt, president of PR firm Interdependence, made a similar point in separate comments to Fox News Digital in June. She said backlash can intensify when audiences believe an artist is not criticizing a policy or politician, but mocking Americans themselves.

According to Schmidt, that distinction matters because fans may see broader cultural criticism as an attack on the same people who support an artist’s career. Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to the White House for comment on Collins’ remarks but did not immediately receive a response.